NFL morning after: Aaron Rodgers makes it look easy

Posted by Michael David Smith on September 16, 2013, 6:58 AM EDT

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Did Aaron Rodgers even break a sweat on Sunday?

I suppose he probably did, over the course of a three-hour game that saw him throw 42 passes, completing 34 of them for a franchise record 480 yards and four touchdowns. But the remarkable thing about the way Rodgers has played the quarterback position for the Packers over the last few years is that he does things we’ve never seen before, and it doesn’t even look hard.

As Rodgers was marching the Packers down the field on three straight long touchdown drives in the first half, it looked like he and his receivers were playing a really intense game of catch. Washington’s defense might as well have not even been on the field, because Rodgers just threw everywhere he wanted to throw, and found someone open every time. Over the course of the day Rodgers engineered five touchdown drives and had a sixth that would have gone for a touchdown if not for James Jones fumbling at the 1-yard line.

Amazingly, Rodgers revealed after the game that he was less than 100 percent physically.

“I didn’t feel great before the game,” Rodgers said. “My neck was sore and stiff. I was hurting pretty bad.”

Despite playing through some pain, Rodgers didn’t have any interceptions on Sunday, which has become the norm for him. Rodgers has only had 1.7 percent of his passes intercepted in his career, the lowest interception rate in NFL history. Rodgers has had three different seasons with eight or fewer interceptions, and he’s on pace to do that again this year. Do you realize how hard it is to play a full season and throw so few interceptions? Let’s put it this way: Peyton Manning is probably the best I’ve ever seen at reading defenses, but Manning has thrown more than eight interceptions every year he’s been in the league.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said after the game that he knows he’s lucky to have Rodgers running his offense.

“Aaron spoils you. He makes it look easy,” McCarthy said.

Yes he does.

Here are my other Week Two thoughts:

Chip Kelly’s offense is fun to watch, but . . . Maybe the Eagles only looked great in Week One because they were playing a terrible Washington team. In Week Two, the Eagles lost to the Chargers and it looked like the real story in Philadelphia is that the Eagles’ defense is going to lose them a lot of games. The flip side of having a fast-paced offense like Kelly’s is that it makes life rough for your defense when your offense doesn’t sustain any long drives. The Chargers had the ball for more than 40 minutes of Sunday’s game, and the Eagles’ defense looked exhausted by the end.

Richard Sherman proved his greatness. In Week One against the Packers, 49ers receiver Anquan Boldin was unstoppable. In Week Two against the Seahawks, Boldin caught one pass, in garbage time. The difference? In Week Two, Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman was covering Boldin. Sherman proved once again what a truly great cornerback he is.

Dontari Poe is a beast. Poe, the Kansas City defensive tackle, sacked Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo twice and showed off an incredible blend of strength and speed in whipping the Cowboys’ offensive line. A whole lot of people criticized the Chiefs for spending the No. 11 overall pick on Poe last year, saying Poe was just a workout warrior at the Combine who didn’t produce on the field. Poe is making those people eat their words.

Washington safety Brandon Meriweather should be suspended for the safety of his opponents — and himself. Meriweather lowered his head and launched into Packers running back Eddie Lacy, knocking Lacy out of the game with a concussion. Shortly after that, Meriweather lowered his head into Packers running back James Starks, and this time it was Meriweather who bore the brunt of the collision, and Meriweather was knocked out of the game. Meriweather has a history of helmet-to-helmet hits, and the NFL needs to say enough is enough and suspend Meriweather before he seriously hurts someone else, or himself.

Let’s appreciate history. During Sunday’s Eagles game, the official Twitter account of Monday Night Football compared Eagles running back LeSean McCoy to Barry Sanders.

I like McCoy and think he looks good in Chip Kelly’s offense, but get real: I knew Barry Sanders. Barry Sanders was a favorite player of mine. LeSean McCoy is no Barry Sanders. Barry Sanders led the league in rushing four times, was second in the NFL in rushing three times, was third once, fourth once and fifth once. That’s right: Sanders played 10 NFL seasons and was a Top 5 rusher all 10 years. McCoy is in his fifth NFL season, and in his first four years he never led the league in rushing, never was second and never was third. He was fourth in the league once, in 2011, and other than that has never been in the Top 10. I think we’re too quick sometimes to anoint every good player as a future Hall of Famer. McCoy is a fine rusher, but he’s not Barry Sanders. Not even close.

Mario Williams had a monster game. Williams was in Cam Newton’s face all day and was a huge part of Buffalo’s 24-23 win over Carolina. His 4.5 sacks were a career high and broke a Bills franchise record that was previously shared by two great pass rushers, Bruce Smith and Cornelius Bennett. Williams hasn’t always lived up to the massive contract Buffalo gave him last year, but he earned his play on Sunday.

Give credit to Philip Rivers. Rivers, quarterbacking a Chargers offense that’s depleted at every position and became even more depleted when receiver Malcom Floyd went down, played a fantastic game against the Eagles. Rivers completed 36 of 47 passes for 419 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions, and he led the drive that got San Diego into position for a game-winning field goal in the closing seconds. Unlike Aaron Rodgers, Rivers doesn’t make it look particularly easy — it felt like an epic struggle as Rivers willed the Chargers to victory. But after Rodgers, Rivers was the next-best quarterback in the NFL on Sunday.

47 responses to “NFL morning after: Aaron Rodgers makes it look easy”

Remember one major thing… Barry couldn’t produce on grass, only turf…. No, no, no, as an eagles fan, the comparison is more of a compliment than an accurate comparison. Shady can invoke shades of Barry, but Barry was simply something special. Wayne Fontes’ personal messiah, if you will.
Sanders is the second best RB of all time, behind Jim Brown. ( that whole natural grass thing…) Shady is an upper echelon present day runner. It’s nice to hear people say such things, but Shady needs another decade of dominance to enter the conversation.

I agree with Monday Night Football’s tweet. Lesean McCoy is the closest thing to Barry but strictly in elusiveness…jukes and moves. He’s no where near Barry in terms of overall ability, for one he’s too light and not strong enough. But in terms of jukes and elusiveness, he’s the closest thing to Barry in that regard. Of course if you are talking about just being the best back in the league, the closest one is AP because he is currently the best in the league. But in terms of running style, has to be Lesean.

Sherman did a great job on Boldin, but I think part of the difference is that Seattle put their best corner on him and shut him down. Packers played zone and Boldin is too smart for that – he found their weakest links, the young safeties, and exploited them. Sat down in soft spots while the Packers played off. If GB meets SF again, I’d bet they put a corner on him and take their chances one on one.

Still Sherman was impressive – he’s as physical as Al Harris with the cover skills of Revis.

If Meriweather should seriously be suspended for being an all-out monster on the field, then you should also write an article on how many hall-of-famers never should have been elected into the hall, being that their games were patterned on the same all-out style of play that seems to be such a “horrible” thing in the present day. Guys like Bednarik, Butkus, and Lott, would have been banned from football if the current clown hierarchy had been in charge back when they played.
Football is by nature a brutally vicious sport. Players are all VERY aware of the risks involved; if they are willing to play then let them play the game as it was meant to be played.

You dont think the Shady McCoy to Barry Sanders comparison has more to do with Shady being the closest in stop & go, juke ability rather than dominance as a player since Sanders? Sanders was a once in a lifetime talent and dominant and you can´t deny Shady is a once in a lifetime talent either just not the same producer or gamewinner. He is no AP but he makes moves that should not be possible for a human being.

I don’t think anyone is foolish enough to put LeSean McCoy’s body of work up against Barry Sanders – there’s just no comparison. This is not entirely McCoy’s fault seeing how the previous regime had a ridiculously imbalance run/pass ratio.

There are elements of McCoy’s running style (making people miss badly) that are vintage Barry. Chalk it up to people feeling the need to reminisce.

Chip Kelly’s offense is fun to watch, but . . . Maybe the Eagles only looked great in Week One because they were playing a terrible Washington team. In Week Two, the Eagles lost to the Chargers and it looked like the real story in Philadelphia is that the Eagles’ defense is going to lose them a lot of games. The flip side of having a fast-paced offense like Kelly’s is that it makes life rough for your defense when your offense doesn’t sustain any long drives. The Chargers had the ball for more than 40 minutes of Sunday’s game, and the Eagles’ defense looked exhausted by the end.

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This isn’t college anymore and you don’t have 100+ kids active on game day where you can rotate in fresh players who aren’t much of a dropoff from the starters.

“The flip side of having a fast-paced offense like Kelly’s is that it makes life rough for your defense when your offense doesn’t sustain any long drives. The Chargers had the ball for more than 40 minutes of Sunday’s game, and the Eagles’ defense looked exhausted by the end.”

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The defense looked every bit as awful in the first quarter as they did in the fourth quarter.

If Meriweather does not get a hefty fine and at least three game suspension the nfl front office is a joke.they make up new rules to protect players and then their own referees ignore violent illegal hits to the head.two concussions on illegal hits and no flags,were there refs even at this game.

Don’t forget that McCoy played for Andy Reid for his first how many years? In order to lead the league in rushing, your coach needs to call rushing plays. Which Reid didn’t do. He constantly put his team in the hole by throwing throwing throwing, even when they had a big lead. The one year they actually let Shady run, he was in the top 5. With a terrible O-Line.

I agree about Barry Sanders. There well never be another one. The closest is Adrian Peterson, who will be the last of the great backs. This is coming from a green and gold blooded Packer fan. Watching those two play twice a year each was my pleasure, win or lose.

chi01town says:
Sep 16, 2013 7:51 AM
“It WAS EASY!! Rodgers was playing the Redskins. that team has a coach
who dont like or want his starting QB. Green bay was suppose to look good winning.”
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….This makes no sense.

The Eagles offense has played 2 games, its way to early to crown it or to fault it. They have shown good things and need a season to tune it in.
As for the defense I hope the Eagles can put some 40’s on the board as they will need it to win. Payton in 2 weeks , they will need 60 that day 🙂

You can’t argue that Shady isn’t the “closest” to Barry Sanders by arguing how Barry Sanders compared to his contemporary backs for two reasons. One, which has been pointed out by others, is that the apt comparison is whether Shady is similarly elusive. The other is that the term “closest” is, itself, relative. Shady does not have to be particularly close to be the “closest.” As you admit, Barry Sanders achieved absolute dominance in his era. For Shady to be “closest” he could be light years away, just closer than anyone else. Whether someone else is closer is a different argument. But to say you missed the point is fairly obvious.

Football has become so boring. Every week now it’s just all about 400 yd passers, 4+ td passes, scores averaging mid thirties and penalties for things I’m not even sure about. Forcing punts is almost as rare as tennis players breaking each others serve. I guess it’s great for fantasy players with no loyal rooting interests but the nfl has lost this fan.

Before the wise guys say its because my qb throws picks left and right, it’s not because of that. Even when they drive right down as against Dallas it was quite boring.

“As bad as the Redskins have looked through two games, there is no way they are worse than the Browns.”

The Browns were competitive with both Dolphins and Ravens. Skins have literally achieved record-breaking NFL defensive futility (first time, ever, an opposing QB has thrown for 450+ and a RB has run for 125+ in same game; second worst opening 2-game PA, ever). This is shaping up to be Shanny’s last season in DC; Little Danny cannot abide continuing to be the league laughingstock.

It’s amazing to see how much hate fans of the 2nd tier NFC North teams spew towards Aron Rodgers! Why can’t y’all just admit how good he is and give credit where credit is due? He performs phenomenally well even with a depleted O-Line and no running game to speak of! Haterz gonna hate no matter what, I guess!

He made it look easy because for him it is easy. Like it or not fans of other teams, he is the best at what he does right now. by a good margin. Unfortunately, he has a on-again off-again porous OL and a limited running game, Starks’ performance notwithstanding. Green Bay’s defense is improving, and more health at corner and safety can make them significantly more consistent. If Lacy/Starks can combine for 150-175 yards per game regularly, this team can out score anybody…as their defense improves, they may not have to rely on scoring 38 points per game to do that.

chi01town says:
Sep 16, 2013 7:51 AM
It WAS EASY!! Rodgers was playing the Redskins. that team has a coach
who dont like or want his starting QB. Green bay was suppose to look good winning.

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If Mike Shanahan doesn’t like or want RGIII, then why did he swap 2012 first rounders, as well as give up two additional first round picks to draft him? Seems like an awful lot for a player he – at least in your eyes – doesn’t like.

And don’t even bother trying to say he was forced into taking RGIII or anything. The head coach has the final say in which player he wants to draft. It’s up to him to convince ownership and management that it’s worth giving up two future first round picks for a single player.

Peterson and Sanders don’t compare. The only thing they have in common is their position, but they are such different runners…. That’s like saying Priest Holmes and Christian Okoye (the Nigerian nightmare) are comparable. Only in the loosest of senses… Where’s my copy of tecmo- bowl…

What is the deal with the refs? We should all be asking the question, are they or were they told to keep it simple and let the Front Office micro manage the game after the fact.

Way too many helmet to helmet hits and a 15 penalty is called no ejections. If I wanted someone out of the game I would do it too for a lousy 15 yards. The fine afterwards, hey with what they get its peanuts. Start game ejections and that helmet hit stops right there, Period end of story.

Also tired of, oh the refs got this wrong or that wrong but we realize it. Let’s fine the refs or suspend some of them for a game or two without pay.

The NFL wants a safer game and the refs catch a whimpy hold on a shirt and miss face masks, low hits, helmet to helmet. Also they are leary of calling out a star player like Suh. They look the other way and let the league handle it.

I guess the fact that James Stark led with the crown of his helmet bypassed you. I guess the fact that James Stark lowered his head at the last second(Leading with the crown of the helmet does that) just went right by you.

If you did not notice it seemed like Kaepernick was off not the fact that Sherman was covering him that good. I noticed alot of times where Boldin smoked Sherman yet Kaepernick did not get that far into the progrerssions to throw it that way. But because Kaepernick was off Sherman had a “great” game.

Philly’s offense is fun to watch. To bad it has been figured out after one half of football. The Redskins were able to stop it after the first half. San Diego had them slowed down to only 13 first half points. Sounds like Philly might have been figured out in less time that Spurrier was figured out. Pretty sad.

Your comment about Phillip Rivers doing all the work with a depleted team just goes to show you that Chip Kelly is over hyped and will be looking for a job in 3 years.

Gale Sayers is the closest thing we’ve seen to Barry Sanders. Shady has moves. His lateral movement, acceleration, field vision and cut backs make him someone to contend with, but he’s running behind a solid offensive line in a scheme that is designed to get him one-on-one against the second level of a defense quickly. He isn’t running fifty yards to pick up ten because he’s the only player on offense, he isn’t making the same guy miss two or three times a play, and he isn’t going to go down in history as one of the greatest to ever play the game.

That isn’t a knock against him, he’s a good back, but the comparison is just silly.

Meriweather needs to be suspended. Both of those shots were head hunting and flat out dirty. It wasn’t someone lowering their helmet and presenting a moving target that is so unfair to the defense. It wasn’t a sudden change of direction that put him into a bad position. He went in crown first, aiming for a knockout. Just as taking out a player’s knees has no place in the game, head hunting doesn’t either.

As far as Richard Sherman proving his greatness? Well, he certainly proved how he can get away with a lot of holding during his jams. I’m not saying he isn’t a good corner, but some of that was just egregious.

Starks put his head down as contact neared just as any running back will do. He didn’t try to guide it into a defensive player. Meriweather specifically aimed his helmet – twice – at the opposing player’s head, making no effort to execute a legitimate tackle. It’s only the second time in my life I smiled to see a player down on the ground. The first time being Fred “The Hammer” Williamson back in SB1.

@tokyosandblaster
I dont have to justify the Bears being 2-0 the numbers has already done that. Last season is gone and its NOT coming back. the packers have to play this season just like the rest of the NFL and NOBODY’S going to lay down for them just because they show up with that yellow a%$ helmet on they head. Today Chicago is the best team in the North and you need to except that. tell the packers to beat the 49ers and maybe you wont be so down. This season Chicago played two teams and beat two teams.

Sanders was the most elusive runner of his era. McCoy is obviously the most elusive runner in the game today…I`m thinking that`s where the comparison lies.

rjmarrella:

You said this:

“Remember one major thing… Barry couldn’t produce on grass, only turf….“

and

“Sanders is the second best RB of all time, behind Jim Brown. ( that whole natural grass thing…) “

Saying Barry is 2nd behind Jim Brown is one thing…saying Barry could not produce on grass flies in the face of reality.

Sanders played in a division that included the Packers (Grass), Bucs (Grass), and Bears (Grass). His numbers on grass over his ten years are almost IDENTICAL to his numbers on turf. He averaged almost 100 yards per game on grass. He averaged almost 5.0 ypc on grass.

@tokyosandblaster
Man NUMBERS DONT LIE.. The Chicago Bears are 2-0 and that makes them the Best in the North today. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT LAST YEAR!! Im talking about right now today the numbers say Chicago is the best team in the north. you need to except that. and even if you dont IT WONT CHANGE

chi01town says:
Sep 16, 2013 8:55 PM
@tokyosandblaster
Man NUMBERS DONT LIE.. The Chicago Bears are 2-0 and that makes them the Best in the North today. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT LAST YEAR!! Im talking about right now today the numbers say Chicago is the best team in the north. you need to except that. and even if you dont IT WONT CHANGE

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You don’t seem to understand. I’ve said the Bears have a better record. That’s all it amounts to.

The year the Packers went 15-1, and didn’t win the Super Bowl, they weren’t the best team. In fact, the Giants, who were the best team in Football that year (Super Bowl Champs), and their record wasn’t NEARLY as good as the Packers.

It’s been two games. Claiming to be better because the Packers have played MUCH better teams shows your lack of intelligence.

chi01town says:
Sep 16, 2013 4:20 PM
@tokyosandblaster
….Today Chicago is the best team in the North and you need to except that.
======================

Fair enough chi01town, you have us Packers fans where you want us. We will except that. No argument there. However, we will not accept that.

Sure the Bears are 2-0 and the Packers are 1-1, but it’s only because the Packers played a tougher schedule. The 49ers are, arguably, the best team in the NFL, and the Packers were beating them in the 4th quarter.

Seriously, your logic dictates the Bears are going to go 16-0 and the Packers will finish 8-8. I’d bet my left nut neither will happen.

Also, even if the Bears win the North, that doesn’t automatically make them the best team. Let’s go back to 2010. The Bears won the division, but the Packers won the Super Bowl. The Bears were clearly not the best team in the North that year, and you need to “accept” that.

Why do packers fans keep living in last years season? this is 2013 and this season… TODAY the Chicago Bears are the best team in the North. again.. the numbers DONT LIE!! Chicago is 2-0. @beerbratscheese
you can keep your excuses for later man. Chicago has played two teams and they beat two teams. tell the packers to win the games they are scheduled to play cause thats exactly what the Bears have done. everything else coming from you is all side talk.